Top 25 Signing Day Wrap Up

As players feel the pressure to commit earlier and earlier in the
recruiting process, we can expect to see more years like we did this year with
the introduction of recruits beginning with "formerly committed
to...".

We expected a day of change in the Top 25 and we weren't disappointed as Ohio
State closed out the day with the Nation's No. 1 Class while Michigan and
Alabama have a legit claim to the No. 1 spot.

Here's a look at the Top 25 Classes as Signing Day came to a close.

Previous ranking in parenthesis is from start of National Signing Day.

Urban
Meyer and Ohio
State took the Big Ten by storm in just a few short months last year
before finishing with the No. 3 class in the country. The Buckeyes
haven't let up and could bring in an even more impressive haul this
year. It's a terrific year for running backs and Ezekiel Elliot
(6-foot/200) of St. Louis, Mo., is ranked ninth but would push for No. 1 in
most years. Linebacker Mike
Mitchell (6-4/225) of Plano, Texas is a name who will have scouts
salivating at the NFL Combine in a few years. He possesses a size/speed
skill set that translates well to the next level. Percy
Harvin did as much damage running the ball as he did catching it for
Urban Meyer at Florida,
and Jalin
Marshall (6-1/190) of Middletown, Ohio, has the ability to play the
Harvin role almost as good as Harvin. (1/31) Ohio State gets 4-Star wide
receiver Corey Smith, moving the Buckeyes up and putting Michigan
squarely in their sights. (2/4) Ohio State inched a little closer to the
No. 1 Class in the nation with a commitment from the nation's No. 10 running
back Dontre
Wilson (5'10/180) of Desoto, Texas. (2/6) Ohio State took over the
No. 1 spot in the rankings on Signing Day with a signature from 5-Star
safety Von
Bell (6'0/190) of Rossville, Ga., and for good measure to get some
separation from the No. 2 team, Ohio State quickly added 4-Star receiver
James
Clark (5'11/170) of New Smyrna Beach, Fla.

Michigan
had the No. 1 class for much of the year for the Class of 2012 but
lacked the staying power to hold on to the top spot, eventually finishing
an impressive fourth. Fast forward to the Class of 2013 and there have
been several changes at the top, but Michigan may have solidified the
No. 1 spot with a commitment from Scout's No. 1 running back Derrick
Green (5-foot-11/220 pounds) of Richmond, Va., on Jan. 26. Green was
Michigan's 19th player rated four stars or better including quarterback Shane
Morris (6-3/205) of Warren, Mich., and safety Dymonte
Thomas (6'1/180) of Alliance, Ohio. The one hole in Michigan's class
may be at receiver, but overall the Wolverines have a strong case for
the nation's No. 1 class.

Alabama
doesn't so much recruit any more as they select. Winning three of the
last four BCS Championships has its benefits, and reloading with talented
players willing to wait their turn for championship hardware is one of
them. Normally this time of year we talk about Alabama's defensive
stars, but this year, the intriguing players are mostly on offense. The
Crimson Tide isn't getting away from smash-mouth football any time soon,
not with running backs Derrick
Henry (6-3/240) of Yulee, Fla., Altee
Tenpenny (6-foot/205) of North Little Rock, Ark., and Tyren
Jones (5-9/200) of Marietta, Ga., all slated to play for Alabama.
Henry is particularly interesting as the nation's all-time leading high school
rusher in the body of a defensive end. Quarterback Cooper Bateman
(6-3/205) of Salt Lake City, Utah, is a solid passer with 4.5+ speed,
which could give the Tide an option they haven't had in recent years.
Tight end O.J.
Howard (6-5/230) of Prattville, Ala., is as good a pass-catching
tight end as I've scouted in years. (2/5) Alabama began its annual
assault on the No. 1 ranking with a commitment from the nation's No. 1
linebacker Reuben Foster (6'1/240) of Auburn, Ala. (watch
here). (2/6) Alabama began its Signing Day surge with the aptly
named defensive lineman Dee
Liner (6'4/295) of Muscle Shoals, Ala. and finished with the
nation's No. 1 defensive tackle A'Shawn
Robinson (6'4/305). With more Top 100 players than any other team in
the country (14) Alabama has a legit claim to the best recruiting class
in the nation.

Notre
Dame may have had a tough go of it at the BCS Championship Game, but
sometimes the obvious gets ignored, they were one of only two teams
playing for the championship. The Fighting Irish have recruited well the
last several years, including the final years under former coach Charlie
Weis, but now the talent is being put in position to win. Recruits
are noticing. Linebacker Jaylon
Smith (6-3/225) of Fort Wayne, Ind., is a home-state product that
happens to be ranked the No. 1 outside linebacker in the country. Smith
is a difference maker on defense who can drop into coverage or attack
the quarterback. Notre Dame has a host of receivers coming in, but
running back Greg
Bryant (5-10/210) of Delray Beach, Fla., is special on offense.
(2/6) The Irish added 5-Star defensive tackle Eddie
Vanderdoes (6'3/300) of Auburn, Calif. late on Signing Day, from a
rankings perspective it wasn't enough to hold off Alabama. From a player
perspective, Vanderdoes was a huge pick up.

Urban Meyer and Ohio State got
the national attention last year for putting together a terrific class
in just a few short months, but Jim Mora and UCLA
did the same out west, finishing 12th after being left for dead earlier
in the season. Like Ohio State, UCLA has picked right up where it left
off, taking advantage of a winning season and scholarship limits imposed
on USC. The
pass-happy Pac-12 may have to think twice when facing UCLA, which has
commitments from four defensive backs rated four-stars or better including
five-star cornerback Priest
Willis (6-2/190) of Tempe, Ariz., and versatile safety tandem Tahaan
Goodman (6-2/190) of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and Tyler
Foreman (6-2/205) of Encino, Calif. It may not be flashy, but it's
certainly necessary -- the Bruins have commitments from a whopping five
four-star offensive linemen including Poasi
Moala (6-5/265) of Moreno Valley, Calif. (2/5) UCLA got a Signing
Day Eve present with a commitment from former USC commit Kylie
Fitts (6'4/260), a 4-Star defensive end from Redlands, Calif. (2/6)
A Signature from 4-Star linebacker Isaac
Savaiinaea helped give UCLA its best class in years.

Going from Nick
Saban to Les
Miles, LSU
has been the most consistent recruiting team in the nation over the last
decade, and over the last decade no BCS program has a better winning
percentage than the LSU Tigers. 2013 is no different as the Tigers look
to lock in another top 10 class. The bulk of the talent LSU is bringing
in is on the defensive side of the ball. Greg
Gilmore (6-5/290) of Hope Mills, N.C., is a five-star defensive tackle
looking to continue LSU's run of talented interior linemen. Defensive
end Frank
Herron (6-5/270) of Memphis, Tenn., is a versatile lineman who can
easily be compared to the giant ends of the recent past, including Marcus
Spears and Marquis Hill. It's not all defense for LSU though as the
Tigers are bringing in a pair of four-star quarterbacks in Hayden
Rettig (6-4/205) of Los Angeles and Anthony
Jennings (6'2/202) of Marietta, Ga. LSU added former Auburn commit
4-Star defensive end Tashawn
Bower (6'5/235) of Somerville, N.J. as a Signing Day surprise.

Yes Texas
A&M has 33 commitments and counting, but it's not the quantity
of players that have the Aggies in such a lofty position, it's the
quality. Texas A&M has 17 players rated four stars or better, and the
receiver class is the envy of most teams in the country. The Aggies are
bringing in a great receiving class headlined by the nation's No. 1
receiver in Ricky
Seals-Jones (6'5/220) of Sealy, Texas. With Johnny
Manziel coming off a Heisman Trophy season and having three seasons
of eligibility left, it's no surprise that receivers are flocking to
College Station, but the Aggies also have commitments from two four-star
quarterbacks in Kenny
Hill (6'0/205) of Southlake, Texas, and Kohl
Stewart (6'2/190) of Houston. (2/6) Derrick Griffin was committed to
the Aggies but will likely be headed to a junior college next year, but
he was replaced on the commitment list with 4-Star defensive end Daeshon
Hall (6'6/220) of Lancaster, Texas.

Florida's
pass defense was pretty strong in 2012, and it shouldn't slow down with
the addition of No. 1 cornerback Vernon
Hargreaves III (5-11/181) of Tampa, Fla. Hargreaves is as good in
pass defense as any prospect in a long time. His coverage skills should
free up hard-hitting safety Marcell
Harris (6-2/200) of Orlando, Fla., to do what he does best -- hit
opponents hard. The running game shouldn't miss a beat for the Gators
either with the addition of one of the most prolific high school running
backs in history in Kelvin
Taylor (5-10/205) of Belle Glade, Fla. Ahmad
Fulwood (6'4/200) of Jacksonville, Fla., and Demarcus
Robinson (6'2/195) of Fort Valley, Ga., are two big receiving targets
who should help to open up running lanes. (2/6) Florida closed the gap
on the Top 5 when 4-Star defensive tackle Jaynard
Bostwick (6'4/270) of Port Saint Lucie, Fla. inked with the Gators.

Georgia
was 10 yards from a spot in the BCS Championship Game, and the Bulldogs
aren't going away any time soon. Georgia is bringing in a big class with
several junior college transfers (four), so the Bulldogs are looking to
make a run in 2013 with senior quarterback Aaron
Murray. Wide receiver Jonathon
Rumph (6-4/200) of Holmes Community College can be counted on right
away. The Bulldogs are looking to re-stack the defense with a whopping 18
players committed on the defensive side of the ball, including junior
college safeties Shaquille
Fluker (6-1/205) of East Mississippi and Kennar
Johnson (6-2/185) of Gulf Coast. Quarterback Brice
Ramsey (6-3/200) of Kingsland, Ga., won't be counted on next year,
but he is a terrific passer who could be in line for the starting job in
2014. (2/6) Georgia got a signature from 4-Star defensive end Davin
Bellamy (6'5/225) of Chamblee, Ga. to finish a huge class of 32
signees.

Who is the surprise team of the
year? That's a common question in this business and never has the answer
been as easy as it is this year: Ole
Miss. The Rebels are knocking on the door of the top 10 with
commitments from national stars such as five-star receiver Laquon
Treadwell (6-3/190) of Crete, Ill., tight end Christian Morgan (6-4/255)
of Plano, Texas, and arguably the nation's No. 1 junior college prospect
in defensive lineman Lavon
Hooks (6-4/295) of Northeast Mississippi Community College. Ole Miss
as is typical has signed its share of stars from within the state
borders, including four-star quarterback Ryan
Buchanan (6-4/210) of Jackson and four-star running back Kalio Moore
(5-11/185) of Rosedale. (2/4) Ole Miss lost a pair of
commitments in running back Peyton
Barber (5'11/225) of Alpharetta, Ga. and junior college defensive
end Jarran
Reed, but added 4-Star running back Jordan
Wilkins (6'1/210) of Cordova, Tenn. (2/6) Ole Miss finally added
long time commit Robert
Nkemdiche (6'4/260) of Loganville, Ga. the defensive end who is the
nation's No. 1 overall prospect as well as the nation's No. 1 offensive
tackle prospect in Laremy
Tunsil (6'6/295) of Lake City, Fla.

Nebraska's
move to the Big Ten generated the question "what will be Nebraska's
recruiting strategy?". I didn't have an answer at the time, and
last year it appeared Nebraska didn't either as the Cornhuskers finished
50th in the nation on Signing Day. Now it looks like Nebraska has
settled in and figured it out. Rather than focus on a specific region,
the Huskers have fanned out across the country and gotten commitments
from 12 states and two countries (Canada). Two of Nebraska's highest-profile recruits come from California in quarterback Johnny
Stanton (6-2/225) of Rancho Santa Margarita and Terrell
Newby (5-10/180) of West Hills. Stanton is a power running option
spread quarterback with a good arm, and Newby is a speed back who
attacks the line of scrimmage like a much bigger back. Newby can provide
the lightning to Katy, Texas, Adam
Taylor's (6-foot/210) thunder. (2/4) Nebraska added commitments
from defensive end Dimarya
Mixon (6'4/265) of Mequite, Texas and junior college transfer
offensive lineman Chongo
Kondolo (6'4/300).

It seems like ancient history, but it was only roughly
12 months ago that Clemson's defense gave up 70 points to West Virginia.
Not surprisingly the Clemson commitment list is stacked with 12
defensive players of its 18 commitments including 4-Star linebackers Jayron
Kearse (6'4/205) of Fort Myers, Fla., Ben
Boulware (6'1/226) of Anderson, S.C., and Dorian
O'Daniel (6'2/205) of Olney, Md. Even one of Clemson's top targets
on offense, 4-Star running back Wayne
Gallman (6'1/200) of Loganville, Ga. is a spectacular linebacker as
well. (2/6) Clemson continued to address its needs on defense with a
signature from the nation's No. 7 cornerback Mackensie
Alexander (5'11/185) of Immokalee, Fla. A late signature from 4-Star
offensive guard Tyrone
Crowder (6'3/340) gave Clemson a quiet surge into the upper half of
the Top 25.

Few teams have experienced the
up and down yo-yo on and off the field like Auburn.
The Tigers' recruiting class was top 10 early in the season, fell out of
the top 25 after the football season, and is currently headed back in
the right direction as we approach Signing Day. Adding weapons at
quarterback in athlete Nick
Marshall (6-3/200) of Garden City Community College and prep star Jeremy
Johnson (6-6/210) of Montgomery, Ala., should help provide the
rudders to steer the Tigers back in the right direction. Auburn is also
looking for immediate help on the defensive line with junior college
transfer Ben
Bradley (6-3/315) of Hutchinson and a pair of highly recruited ends
in Carl Lawson (6-2/255) of Alpharetta, Ga., and Tashawn
Bower (6-5/235) of Somerville, N.J. (2/4) Auburn got big running
back Peyton
Barber to join teammate Lawson. (2/6) Auburn got big news with
signatures from former Ole Miss commitment Elijah Daniels, a 4-Star
defensive end from Avon, Ind. and the big catch in 5-Star defensive
tackle Montravius
Adams (6'3/300) of Vienna, Ga. Auburn kept up its good work with a
signature from 4-Star running back Jonathan
Ford (5'11/200) of New Hope, Ala.

Washington
is putting together another strong class after three straight top 25
classes under head coach Steve Sarkisian. As is typical for teams on the
West
Coast, the bulk of the Huskies' star power comes from California. Of
Washington's nine commitments rated four stars or better, eight of them
hail from the Golden State, including quarterback Troy
Williams (6-3/200) of Harbor City and big receiver Demorea
Stringfellow (6-3/215) of Moreno Valley. Receiver John
Ross (5-11/175) of Long Beach, Calif., may be the most under-appreciated four-star receiver on the West Coast. Generating little buzz
among fans who had their focus on other prospects, Ross seemingly went
under the radar. Ross will change that on the big stage of college
football. He is a dynamic playmaker on offense and as a return man.
(2/6) The Huskies lost 4-Star offensive lineman Cameron Hunt (6'4/290)
to Oregon but gained a signature from linebacker Keishawn
Bierria (6'1/210) a teammate of Williams.

Oklahoma
isn't accustomed to being in the teens on Signing Day, but the Sooners
are bringing in one of the most talented running backs in the country in
Keith Ford (5-11/195) of Cypress, Texas. After having such success going
west to get oversized safety Tony
Jefferson in 2010, the Sooners are trying their luck again with Hatari
Byrd (6-2/210) of Fresno. Byrd is built like an outside linebacker
but runs like a defensive back. The Sooners are looking to get bigger on
the defensive line and have commitments from three defensive tackles,
including junior college product Quincy
Russell (6-4/310) of Trinity Valley who should push for immediate
playing time. (1/31) Oklahoma continues to make a run at the big men
with a commitment from defensive lineman Matthew
Romar (6'2/255) of Port Arthur, Texas. (2/6) Oklahoma got a
signature from Byrd's teammate 4-Star cornerback L.J.
Moore (6'1/175) to keep Oklahoma in the Top 15.

Jimbo Fisher helped make Florida
State a player on the national recruiting stage again after year of
the Seminoles being THE player on the national stage. Fisher flipped
former Alabama commitment Demarcus
Walker (6'4/250) of Jacksonville, Fla. to Tallahassee a few weeks
ago. On Signing Day eve, the Seminoles got maybe an even more impressive
switch when the nation's No. 2 cornerback Jalen
Ramsey (6'0/190) of Brentwood, Tenn. switched from USC to Florida
State. Ramsey and Walker join a solid nucleus of players including
playmaking running back Ryan
Green (5'10/190) of St. Pete. (2/6) Florida State continued its
ascent up the charts on Signing Day with a signature from 5-Star
linebacker Matthew
Thomas (6'4/210) of Miami, Fla. and 4-Star defensive tackle Keith
Bryant (6'2/307) of Delray Beach. The Seminoles were outside of the
Top 25 just two days before Signing Day.

Oregon's world was turned upside
down recently with the departure of head coach Chip
Kelly to the NFL, but the Ducks seem to be doing a good job of
hanging on to a small but talented group of players. The small class
(15) means there are less targets to lose to poachers, but the loss
feels outsized. One player the Ducks can count on is running back Thomas
Tyner (6-foot/215) of Beaverton, Ore. Tyner is a legitimate track star
in the body of a big running back. Tyner had never had to run through
tackles before, he could simply run by them at his high school, but he
showed more than enough ability to go between the tackles when facing
the tough competition of the Army All-America Bowl. Oregon's high-powered attack will need to stay high powered -- the Ducks have only three
players committed on defense. (1/31) Oregon continues to fill out its
class by adding commitments from athletic quarterbacks including Damion
Hobbs (6'3/225) of Cedar Hill, Texas. (2/5) Oregon lost running back
4-Star Dontre
Wilson to Ohio State, but don't expect much sympathy for the team
bringing in Thomas
Tyner. (2/6) Oregon got a much anticipated signature from former
4-Star offensive lineman, Cal commitment Cameron
Hunt (6'4/290) of Corona, Calif. as well as a signature from former
USC commit 4-Star defensive end Torrodney
Prevot (6'4/205) of Houston, Texas.

That USC
only has half a class (13 commitments) and still cracks the top 10 as
late as the week before Signing Day is one of the most amazing
developments I've ever seen. USC has more five-star players committed (six)
than any team in the country. With so few scholarships to give, USC put
a premium on early commitments and made each scholarship more valuable.
While the early pressure cooker can cause some headaches in January with
de-commitments, USC is still bringing in the nation's No. 1 quarterback --
Max
Browne (6-5/215) of Sammamish, Wa. -- and the No. 1 safety -- Su'a
Cravens (6-1/205) of Murrieta, Calif. Of USC's commitments, all
of them are rated at least four stars, and 10 of them are ranked in the top
10 at their respective positions. That's an unprecedented level of
success on the recruiting trails in the teeth of harsh NCAA sanctions.
(2/5) Losing 5-Star cornerback Jalen
Ramsey (6'0/190) of Brentwood, Tenn. to Florida State was a blow to
a small, but talented class. The news got worse as 4-Star defensive end Torrodney
Prevot (6'4/205) of Houston, Texas finally went public with his
decommitment while former Trojan pledge Kylie Fitts announced for rival
UCLA. (2/6) USC got some much needed good news with a signature from
former Florida commitment 4-Star linebacker Quinton
Powell (6'2/200) of Daytona Beach, Fla.

In any other year that Ole Miss
isn't crashing the top 10, Vanderbilt
would be considered the surprise team of the year as the Commodores are
looking for their highest finish in recruiting ... ever. It wasn't too
long ago that it was surprising to see Stanford
in the top 25, and now the Cardinal is a perennial top 25 team on the
field as well. Vanderbilt is hoping to have similar success and
solidify the lines of scrimmage with four-star prospects such as
offensive lineman Delando
Crooks (6-4/277) of Atlanta and defensive tackle Jay
Woods (6-2/275) of Jackson, Ga., is a good start. (2/6) Vanderbilt
got a nice win over Stanford with the signature of receiver Jordan
Cunningham (6'1/175) of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and also added 4-Star
linebacker Zach
Cunningham (6'4/205) of Pinson Valley, Ala. for the Commodores
highest finish ever on FOX Sports Next.

Mississippi
State and Dan Mullen have turned in three straight winning seasons
in Starkville and look to turn in a second consecutive top 25 recruiting
class after finishing 18th in 2012. Without a doubt the highest profile
recruit in this class is defensive end Chris
Jones (6-6/255) of Houston, Miss. Jones comes from a town of roughly
3,500 people and relatively speaking was late to the recruiting scene. A
big senior year followed by an impressive All-American performance at
Under Armour vaulted Jones to the No. 2 defensive end. On the offensive
side of the ball, running back Ashton Shumpert (6-2/210) is a big,
powerful back. The Bulldogs have seven wide receivers on their
commitment list, but lost the most highly rated of them in Corey
Smith to Ohio State the week before Signing Day. (2/6) The Bulldogs
helped get over the loss of Smith by plucking 4-Star receiver Fred
Ross (6'0/180) of Tyler, Texas off of Oklahoma State's commitment
list.

South
Carolinais
another team that has become a mainstay in the top 25. The Gamecocks
have been quieter on the recruiting trail this year, and that may be
because there's noJadeveon
ClowneyorMarcus
Lattimorein state
this year. In fact the Gamecocks went north to get a running back
commitment fromDavid
Williams(6-1/200)
of Philadelphia. South Carolina has made itself at home in Georgia
though with commitments from seven players from the Peach State,
including defensive tackleKelsey
Griffin(6-2/300)
of Hoschton, Ga. (2/6) South Carolina jumped back into the Top 25 with
a signature from linebacker Skai
Moore (6'3/210) of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Pittsburgh
is looking to shore up a defensive secondary and has five players
committed who project as safeties. Some of those players -- such as Tony
Harper (6-4/200) of Toledo, Ohio -- have the frames to grow into
outside linebackers. It's a safety though in Tyler
Boyd (6-1/175) of Clairton, Pa., who headlines the Panther recruiting
class. The cafeteria could take the biggest hit at Pittsburgh as the
Panthers look to get considerably bigger along the lines of scrimmage.
Pittsburgh has commitments from 13 players at tight end, offensive line,
and defensive line, including four-star offensive tackle Dorian
Johnson (6-6/275) of Belle Vernon, Pa.

Texas
has always recruited talent consistently, where they become inconsistent
is with the size of their classes, and this year looks to be a smaller
year for the Longhorns after signing 50 players in the last two. Quarterback Tyrone
Swoopes (6-4/220) of Whitewright can throw it a mile and run like a
deer. If he can develop consistency and harness his talent, he can be
special. As is typical for a Longhorn class, every one of Texas'
commitments played high school football in Texas. (2/4) The loss of the
nation's No. 1 defensive tackle A'Shawn
Robinson (6'4/305) hurt Texas in the recruiting rankings, and more
importantly, that's a big hole to fill on the defensive line.

Oklahoma
State has quickly earned a reputation as a haven for skill players
on offense and of the Cowboys' five four-star rated recruits, not
surprisingly two of them are wide receivers. There is a good mix with Marcell
Ateman (6-4/190) of Wylie, Texas, fitting the big role, and Ra'Shaad Samples
(5-10/170) of Dallas fitting into the slot. (2/4) The
Cowboys added a commitment from defensive end Vili
Leveni (6'4/260) of Hurst, Texas. (2/6) the Cowboys were stung
by the loss of their highest rated commitment, receiver Fred
Ross (6'0/180) of Dallas, Texas to Mississippi State on the eve of
Signing Day.

Baylor has become a popular place for big time offensive
players, and the Bears add another one in the Nation's No. 2 wide
receiver Robbie
Rhodes (6'1/190) of Fort Worth, Texas. But Baylor also addressed a
need on the defensive line with a Signing Day pledge from 4-Star
defensive tackle Andrew
Billings (6'1/305) of Waco, Texas. Billings joins 4-Star safety Austin
Jupe (6'1/185) of San Antonio to lead the Baylor defense of the
future.

Scott began with Scout as the Southeast Regional Manager in 2002. In addition to his recruiting responsibilities, Scott developed and ran the National Scout Combine series from 2005 thru 2008. Scott has been Director of Scouting since 2006 and oversees the Recruiting Rankings for Scout.
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